Birth of Jesus Christ: Hope for the Destitute in a Time of Economic Imbalance

Luke 2:1-20

Revelation 12 describes Mary’s persecution because of being unwed and pregnant.

• All people are required to be counted within the records of a Christless government.
• The requirement of the census plays a role in fulfilling Bible prophecy.
• Jesus Christ is born within the populations of destitution.
• Night shepherds are pointed to Jesus Christ as they watch over others.
• Night shepherds look into Jesus Christ and make Him known.
• The night shepherds glorify and praise God for all they hear and see about Jesus Christ

The requirement of the census plays a role in fulfilling Bible prophecy. It was during the time of the census that Jesus Christ was born, “So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.” His birth in Bethlehem is the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, “But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2 The only reason Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem was because an unGodly government required them to be counted into their records, but this was God’s hand moving to fulfill prophecy. Likewise, there are many rules that we must follow under this present Christless government, but above all we remain faithful to Jesus Christ. The fulfillment of future prophecy will happen in this world as we maintain our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit within a world that rules by making the body the seat of government for the mark of the beast.

Jesus Christ is born within the populations of destitution. The conditions were horrid for Mary because no one had compassion at all for her as a woman with Child. There were no decent lodgings for the one who carried Jesus Christ within herself. They stayed in a stable with animals, unprepared for their arrival, meaning Joseph had to shovel animal waste off the floor to make a place for them to sleep. The manger was a trough where animals would feed from. It was probably no more than two feet high from the ground, 1 1/2 feet wide, and about four feet long. Mary cushioned the trough for Jesus to lie in and wrapped him in swaddling cloths. “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 Today, Jesus Christ will be born within people of very little material provisions and within very lowly living circumstances. Money, possessions, and physical comforts are used as rewards for serving the mark of the beast, and there are minimal resources that goes to people who reject those who govern by the mark of beast. Those who glorify the name of Jesus and share His Gospel do not live among the prosperous. That is the work of humanism empowered by the mark of the beast. The census plays a role in social and economic factors.

Night shepherds are pointed to Jesus Christ as they watch over others. There are people who care for those who live with very little money, possessions, or physical comforts. They are the shepherds who are working outside the norms of the society that governs by the mark of the beast in the name of humanism. Those Godly shepherds are working in the night when various types of violence can come and take the life of one of their sheep, “Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Luke 2:8 Their own life could be threatened. Violence is happening in every city around the world, and compassionate people plea for an end to the terror, and the glory of the Lord shines around them, “And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.” Luke 2:9 The message to the good shepherds is that there is a Savior born who is Jesus Christ the Lord, who brings hope to the destitute, “Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 The sign to the night shepherds is that Jesus Christ is born in circumstances of destitution, “And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:12-14

Night shepherds look into Jesus Christ and make Him known. People who care what is happening among the destitute, have a desire to see what is happening relating to the birth of Jesus Christ, “So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us,” Luke 2:15 They are not directed to look for Christ among the prosperous who have an abundance of money, possessions, and physical comforts. To find the ones living for Jesus Christ, look among those who are living with minimal levels of materialism. Among them will be found those who glorify the name of Jesus and have a desire to share the teachings of the Bible. When we find Jesus Christ, however lowly of circumstances that leads us to, we want to let everyone know what the Bible says about Jesus. “And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.” Luke 2:16-17

The night shepherds glorify and praise God for all they hear and see about Jesus Christ. Many people marvel to know the Lord Jesus Christ and Savior of the world is found within places of destitution. It’s not within the prosperity of the global “democracy” that Jesus Christ is found, He is found among the rejected. He is found among those who denounce the global government, a government that operates through the mark of the beast in the name of humanism. He is found among those who are ridiculed, mocked, and isolated by the society which is governed by the mark of the beast. He is found among those who devote their body as the temple of the Holy Spirit and denounce the thing that has power over physiology and wants to make people its seat of government. “And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” Luke 2:18 For the followers of Jesus Christ who live with minimal earthly means, every day we ponder within our heart the greatness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, even as Mary did, “But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19 Meanwhile, the shepherds glorify and praise God as they publicize everything they heard and saw concerning Jesus Christ. “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” Luke 2:20

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11